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Trade Shows

IBTM World Sees Record Number of Appointments

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by Michael J. Shapiro |
November 25, 2015

IBTM World wrapped up in Barcelona, Spain, last week, after facilitating a record number of appointments - more than 80,000 were scheduled before the start of the show - among the 4,000 hosted buyers in attendance. Attributing some of the show's success to the resurgent Spanish economy, show organizers announced that IBTM World (formerly known as EIBTM) would remain in Barcelona until at least 2020. The show, which has been held in Barcelona since 2004, brings about 15,000 meeting professionals to the city each year, with an estimated annual economic impact of nearly US$64 million.

About 3,000 people attended the 83 sessions included in the event's new ACS Knowledge Village, which offered industry education on the show floor.

The show's success occurred just days following the terrorist attacks in Paris, which, according to a spokesperson, speaks to the resiliency of the travel industry. "The global meetings industry family has come together, sadly, in times like this before," noted IBTM portfolio director Sallie Coventry, "and we will again in the future. No doubt Paris will recover and move forward, and we hope to have been the start of that last week in Barcelona, helping their business of meetings and events."

Show director Graeme Barnett called for a minute of silence shortly after the show kicked off, for everyone in the world affected by such incidents of terrorism.

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